as in blushing
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)
his face reddened when she flashed him a dazzling smile
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reddening
Rose, though, reddening in the triangle between his eyes and nose, begins to sob.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
His huddles at times resemble a family Sunday supper after the conversation turns to politics – everyone yelling, nobody listening, Izzo’s face reddening and a whiteboard left broken, the innocent victim of all the arguing (though they are rumored to be pre-cut to avoid splintering).
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
12 Dec. 2025
The front lawn falls steeply away from the house and on down to the fence, a garden overgrown with reddening watsonias.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Visible light has been shown to trigger erythema, or skin reddening, in lighter skin.
—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
23 Aug. 2025
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
His huddles at times resemble a family Sunday supper after the conversation turns to politics – everyone yelling, nobody listening, Izzo’s face reddening and a whiteboard left broken, the innocent victim of all the arguing (though they are rumored to be pre-cut to avoid splintering).
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
12 Dec. 2025
The front lawn falls steeply away from the house and on down to the fence, a garden overgrown with reddening watsonias.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Visible light has been shown to trigger erythema, or skin reddening, in lighter skin.
—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reddening
Verb
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Cue a raft of social media fancams showing a blushing Mary Bennet being pursued by her handsome, Regency-era bachelors.
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The blushing singer was snapped getting a sweet smooch on the cheek from her big brother while backstage.
Verb
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Hives, flushing, nausea and diarrhea are common.
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Another that pops up is that flushing a tick down the toilet is a good way to kill it.
Verb
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The pants have close to 6,000 five-star ratings and plenty of glowing reviews to boot.
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Humans of all ages, in fact, stare dazed into glowing screens.
Cite this Entry
“Reddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reddening. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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